Post Reports What ‘Conclave’ gets right about choosing the next pope
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May 6, 2025 Shane O’Neill, a style reporter for The Washington Post, discusses the recent film 'Conclave' and how it reflects the real-life process of electing a new pope after the passing of Pope Francis. He contrasts the dramatic portrayal in the movie with the actual voting mechanisms and the spiritual significance behind them. O’Neill also explores the surge of interest in the film and its thematic ties to authoritarianism, shedding light on the complex dynamics and ideological divides among the cardinals involved in the historic conclave.
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Movie Portrays Secretive Conclave
- The movie "Conclave" depicts cardinals locked away voting for a new pope with no outside contact.
- It shows ideological divides among cardinals and a mysterious dark horse candidate.
Voting Rituals Are Accurate
- The voting process in the movie aligns closely with reality, including the use of black and white smoke signals.
- The secretive and arcane voting ritual is very faithfully depicted.
Conclave Is Spiritual, Not Political
- Political jockeying happens mostly before the conclave, during general congregation.
- Campaigning is forbidden during conclave; it's primarily a spiritual process with daily masses and prayers.
